Collapsible poultry-crate.



E. FRANKFURT.

COLLAPSIBLE POULTRY CRATE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.23.1915.

1,910,452. Patented Jan. 2,1917.

2 SHEETSSHEET l.

E. FRANKFURT.

COLLAPSIBLE POULTRY CRATE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 23, 1915.

,210,452, Patented Jan. 2, 1917.

2 SHEETS SHEET 2.

s u I0 5?. 35 a4 3 than;

ERNEST FRANKFURT, OFOMAHA, NEBRASKA.

COLLAPSIBLE POULTRY-CRATE.

Application filed January 23, 1915.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ERNEST FRANKFURT, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Omaha, in the county of Douglas and State of Nebraska, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Collapsible Poultry-Crates, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to the general class of shipping and storing receptacles, and particularly to boxes or crates adapted to be collapsed, folded or knocked-down when not in use.

It is the object of my invention to provide in a receptacle of this character means for interlockingthe various parts so that when in extended position the same will be held rigidly together to form a box or crate of considerable strength and of minimum weight proportionately to its strength; means for protecting various relatively fragile parts from breakage when they crates are stacked in piles, either when folded or extended; means for securely holding the parts in folded position; means for holding certain parts in position temporarily while the crate is being placed in extended position; and various other particular structures and-combinations of parts, as will be more fully set forth hereinafter.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a perspective view of a crate embodying my invention, Fig. 2 is a transverse section of the crate in folded or'collapsed position, Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section of the crate in partially folded position, Fig. l is a de tail partial end view showing one of the side-sections sprung outwardly preparatory to folding down the end-sections, Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of one of the latches for retaining the sections in folded position, Fig. 6 is a detail-end view of the latch, Fig. 7 is a detail plan view of the same, Fig. 8 is a detail horizontal section through one corner of the crate, Fig. 9 is a detail end view of one of the end-catches and the parts adjoining the same, Fig. 10 is a. detail transverse section showing the doorslat retainer, and Fig. 11 is a detail longi tudinal section showing the retainer or fastener for the transverse partition-section of the crate.

In carrying out myinvention I provide a base-section or casing comprising side-pieces 1 and 2, transverse end-pieces 3 and 4, a center cross-piece 5, and longitudinal bot- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 2, 1217.

Serial No. 4,015.

tom-pieces 6 and 7, the pieces 6 being disposed along the edges adjoining the sidepieces 1 and 2, and preferably being of greater thickness than the central bot-tompieces 7. Atthe corners the side-pieces, endpieces and bottom-pieces G are rigidly connected with each other by metal cornerplates or stays 8, and all of the various pieces of the base-section have their adjoining portions secured to each other by nails, screws or the like. I

The end-sections of the crate are formed by uprights or vertical pieces 9, upper and intermediate cross-pieces 10 and 11, and diagonal braces 12, all of which are suitably secured to each other by nails or screws. The lowerends of the uprights 9 are connected by hinges 1-3 to the bottom-pieces 6, so that the end-sections are thus hingedto the basesection just within the end-pieces 3 and 4, and are movable from vertical positions to the horizontal positions thereof shown in Fig. 3. For holding the end-sections up temporarily during the operation of placing the crate in extended or unfolded form, flat springs 1% are provided which are secured to the side-pieces 1 and 2 andfrictionally engage the edges'of the lower ends of the up rights 9, asshown in Figs. 3 and 8.

The side-sections of the crate are-each formed by two vertical end-pieces 15, a vertical center-piece 16, an upperlongitudinal slat 17, intermediate longitudinal slats l8 and diagonal bracing-slats 19, the several parts being rigidly secured together at their overlapping portions, as shown. The lower ends of the vertical pieces 15 and 16 are connected by means of hinges 20 with the side pieces 1 and 2 of the base-section, and the lower parts of said hinge-s are extended around the inner corners of the base-section, being secured to the bottom-pieces 6 so as to form an additional stay or connection between said bottom-pieces 6 and the sidepieces 1 and 2.

The top of the crate is formed by two longitudinally extending sections which are hinged to the respectively adjacent side-sections. One of the top-sections is formed by end-cross-pieces 21, a central cross-piece 22, and longitudinal slats 23, 24, 25 and 26, all suitably secured to each other at the overlapping portio-ns thereof. The slat 24 may be of less thickness than the others, The other section of the top is narrower than the first and is formed by end cross-pieces 29, a

central cross-piece 30, and longitudinal slats 31, 32 and 33, the cross-pieces and slats being suitably secured together at their adj acent parts. The slats 31 and 32 are preferably of the same thickness as the slat 24, while the slat 33 is of the same thickness as the slats 23, 25 and 26. The outer ends of the cross-pieces 21 and 29 of the top-sections are connected by means of special hinges 27 with the upper ends 01" the vertical pieces 15 of the respectively adjacent side-sections, and the central cross-pieces 22 and 30 are connected by plain hinges 28 with the central vertical pieces 16 of the side-sections.

In addition to the base-section, end-sections, side-sections, and top-sections described, there is a partition-section formed by vertical end-pieces 34, an upper crosspiece 35, and lower cross-pieces 36. The lower ends of the pieces 34 are connected by hinges 37 with the center cross-piece 5 of the base-section, and the lower parts of said hinges are formed so as to engage the bottom-pieces 6, being secured thereto and forming a metal stay or connection between the cross-piece 5 and said bottom-pieces 6., as shown in Fig. 3.

On the wide top-section between the slats 25 and 26 there is a slidably-held door-slat 38. At the central part or" said slat one edge thereof has a notch 39 formed therein, which is employed in connection with a retaining device for normally preventing longitudinal movement of the slat. The said retaining device is made from a piece of spring-wire formed as shown in detail in Fig. 10. One end of the wire is inserted in a slanting direction in the cross-piece 22, thence a portion passes up through the notch 39, thence a portion 40 passes horizontally across the top of the slat to a coil 41 through which a screw extends, as shown, to secure the same to the cross-piece. From the coil 41 a portion extends down to a larger coil 42 disposed in a vertical plane, and from said coil a portion 43 extends upwardly, the end thereof being looped around the horizontal portion 40. The said wire-portion 43 normally presses the slat laterally so that the notch 39 in the opposite edge is kept in en gagement with the end-portion of the retainer, and longitudinal movement of the slat is thus prevented. When it is desired to move the slat longitudinally and provide access to the inside of the crate, the slat is pushed aside so as to disengage the notch from the retainer, the portion 43 moving to the-position shown by dotted lines in Fig. 10, after which the slat may be moved endwise as desired.

The leaves of the special hinges 27 are provided with flanges 44 adjacent to the pintles, said flanges fitting, as shown, around the sides of the respective pieces 15, 21 and 29 which the hinges connect. On the portions of said hinges that are secured to the pieces 15 there are also flanges 45 adapted to fit around the edges of the uprights'9 of the end-sections, just beneath the upper crosspiece 10 of said sections. On the parts of the hinges secured to the pieces 21 and 29 of the top-sections there are similar flanges 46 adapted to fit around the upper edges of the cross-pieces 10 of the end-sections just inside the uprights 9. j The flanges 45 and 46, when engaged with the end-sections, prevent inward displacement of said sections. The upper ends 01": the flanges 45, by engaging the cross-pieces 10, prevent upward displacement of the side-sections relatively to the end-sections. The outer ends of the flanges 46, by engaging the inner edges of the uprights 9, prevent outward displacement of the SlClG-DlGHlbGIS, or spreading of the top-sections relatively to the end-sections.

On the cross-pieces 21 of the wide top-sections, beneath the ends of the slat 26, are

secured the connectorplates 47. Said plates are channel-shaped in section, having flanges which extend down over the sides and somewhat below the lower faces of the crosspieces on which the plates are carried. At one end the plates overlap the ends of the cross-pieces 29 of the narrow top-section, as shown in Fig. 9, and on said pieces 29 are pins 48 which extend up throughsuitable openings in the plates. The inner flanges of the plates extend down alongside the inner faces of the cross-pieces 10 of the endsections, and serve to prevent inward displacement of the centralparts of said sections. The outer flanges of the connectorplates. have inwardly-turned lugs 49 at the lower edges thereof, adapted for engagement by catches secured on the cross-pieces 10 of the end-sections. The catches in the structure shown are identical in structure and operation with a wellknown form of catch or fastener for window-sashes, and have. ro-

tary cam-members 50 with eccentric flanges 51 adapted to engage the lugs 49 and draw the same downwardly as the cam is turned in the proper direction. The catches serve to hold the top-sections down in proper relation to theend-sections, and the connectorplates and pins 48 serve to hold the adj acent sides of the top-sections together, preventing outward displacement of said sections.

On the upper cross-piece 35 of the partition-section there are secured L-shaped fingers 52 adapted to extend over the upper sides of the central cross-pieces 22 and 30 of the top-sections, so as to hold the central parts of the top-sections down against the partition. One of the fingers 52 is disposed so that one edge thereof will engage the outer edge of the slat 24, and another of the fingers is disposed so as to engage the outer edge of the slat 22. Said fingers thus serve to prevent outward movement or spreading .apart of thetop-sections and side-sections,

as-well .as.:to prevent lifting or raising of the top-sections, while the ipartition is in raised or vertical position.

the cross-piece 22. Torelease the partition,

the'fastener is lifted to the position shown by dotted lines in Fig. 11, and thereafter the partition-may be'turned down to horizontal position. In raising the partition to vertical ;position the fastener is automatically liftedby the engagement of the cross-piece 35 with the inclined wire-portion adjoining the vertical portion 55.

Infoldin or collapsing the crate the end catches are first released by turning the cammembers 50 so as to disengage them from the lugs 49 of the connector-plates. The partition fastener is then lifted to release position, and the partition is turned down to the horizontal position shown in Fig. 3. After this is done the top-sections are free and may be swung upwardly on the hinges 27 and 28 to vertical positions such as shown in 'Figs. 3 and 4. After the top-sections have been raised'up, and the hinge-flanges 46 thus disengaged from the uprights 9 of the endsections, the side-sections may be sprung outwardly, as showninFig. hsufliciently to disengage the fianges45 from the uprights 9, and the end-membersmay then be turned down to horizontal position,1as shown in Fig. 3. Thereafter the side-sections are folded inwardly to the positions shown in Fig. 2, the top-sections being in the same positions relative to the side-sectionsaswhen both are in the'vertical position. The side connected with the side-piece 2 and-carrying the narrow top-section is turned down first, and the other side-section, which is connected with the side-piece 1 and carries the wide top-section, is folded down last. It will be noted that the piece 1 is wider'than the piece 2 so that the sides and top-sections, when folded, lie in substantially horizontal position.

For retaining the parts in folded or collapsed position latches are provided for holding the upper or outermost of the folded sections in fixed relation to the end-pieces 3 and 4 of the base-section. The preferred construction of the latches is shown in detail in Figs. 5, 6 and 7 On the cross-pieces 21 of the wide top-section are secured plates 56 which carry at their outer ends upturned perforate lugs 57. Portions of the plates the latch-plates 59.

extend down the inner sides of the pieces 21 andat the bottom have hook-shaped lugs 58 which extend through notches in the sides of Said latch-plates are pivoted on the edges of the plates 56 between the lugs 58 and, in addition to the fastening formedby the hooked lugs, are secured to; the platesand cross-pieces by means of screws 60'which-pass-through elongated openings therein, as shown. Each latchplate has a loop-portion 61at the upper edge thereof, and is perforated at the top of the loop so that the head of ai bolt 62-may be passed through said opening and lie within the loop, as shown, while-the other end of the bolt extends through the opening in the lug 57 at the outer end of the plate 56. The

lower portion of-thelatch-plate extends below: the cross-piece, being at an obtuse angle to the upper portion of the plate. The end of a wire 63 extends through the loop-portion 61 and servesto retain the head of the -bolt-62 within the loop, and alsoto press the upper end ofthe latch-plate toward the position shownin Fig. 5 and by dotted lines in Fig. 6, so thatthe end of the bolt will protrude from the lug 57. Parts of the springs 63 also extend across the ends of the door-slat 38 and serve to hold the same down against the pieces 21. hen the crate 'section to-whichit is hinged, down within the space between saidv end-pieces. The said upper or outer sections of the folded structure serve tohold or retain the other folded sections in the space beneath them within the bottom-section. WVhen the-crate is in extended position the lowerportions of the latch-plates 59 are engaged by the-pieces 10 ofthe end-sections, as shown in Fig. 6, and

.the upper parts of the plates are thereby -moved inwardly so thatv the ends of the bolts 62 are drawn back and will notprotrude beyondthelugs 57. Thus the latch-bolts are not; liable to catch on otherv articles adjacent to the crate, orto be bent or brokenofl by striking other crates or the like during transportation.

It will be noted that the latches are so constructed and arranged that no part thereof will extend above the level of the upper sides of the slats 25 and 26, and that the same is true also of the door-slat retainer and the partition-fastener, so that none of these parts are liable to breakage or damage by the piling of other crates or the like upon the extended crate, or by placing the crates in piles when in folded or collapsed form. The end-catches are also protected by being disposed beneath the pieces 21 so as not to extend beyond the outer edges thereof. It will be seen that when the crate is in folded form the more fragile parts thereof are well inclosed by the strongly-built base-section so as to be protected thereby from breakage during handling or shipping of the crates. It will be seen also that when the crate is extended its various sections are so thoroughly connected and interlocked by the flanged hinges 27, the connectonplates and pins 48, the end-catches 50, and the fingers 52 of the partition-section, that the extended crate will be as strong and durable as the ordinary non-collapsible crate of equal size and weight.

Now, having described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent is:

.Q. 1. A. collapsible crate comprising a basesect-ion having vertlcal side-pieces and endpieces, end-sections hinged to the base-section within the end-pieces, side-sections hinged to the side-pieces of the base-section,

topsections hinged to the upper edges of the side-sections, a transverse partition-section hinged to the base-section, interengaging parts connecting the side-sections and top-sections with the end-sections, and inthe end-sections to prevent spreading of the top-sections and side-sections, means on the top-sections interengageable to prevent spreading thereof, and catches on the endsections for engaging parts of the top-sections toprevent raising thereof.

3. In a collapsible crate, a base-section, end-sections and side-sections hinged to the base-section, top-sections hinged to the side- Oopies of this patent may be obtained for sections, all the latter sections being. foldable into horizontal positions adjoining the base-section, latches having bolts'for Securing said sections in folded position, and means for automatically retracting the latch-bolts when the sections are disposed in extended position.

a. In a collapsible crate, a base-section having vertical end-pieces and side-pieces, end-sections hinged to the base-section and foldable inwardly onto the bottom thereof, side-sections hinged to the side-pieces of the base-section and foldable inwardly between the vertical end-pieces, top-sections hinged to the upper edges of the side-sections, flanges on the top-sections and side-sections for engaging the end-sections when the latter are in vertical position, said flanges being engaged and disengaged by movement of the top-sections and side-sections about their hinge-axes, flanged members on one of the top-sections adapted to overlap and interengage with parts of the other top-sectioinand catches on the end-sections for ena in said flan ed members to hold the D b b C top-sections down against the end-sections.

In a collapsible crate, a base-section, end-sections and side-sections hinged to the base-section and foldable'inwardly to positions adjacent to the bottom thereof, topsections, means for connecting the same with the side-sections and end-sections, a transverse partition hinged to the base-section and swingable from vertical to horizontal position, members on the partition for holding down the top-sections, said members being engaged with and disengaged from the top-sections by and during the swinging of the partition between horizontal and vertical positions, and manually releasable means for holdingthe partition in vertical position.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two witnesses.

7 ERNEST FRANKFURT.

Witnesses:

A. W. JAMIESON, D. O. BARNELL.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

